About Julie

Julie grew up understanding from a very early age that everything was better with a book in hand. She lived for the monthly Scholastic book flyer and waited patiently until the best day ever: when she’d find a fresh stack of books on her desk at school. In third grade, she vividly remembers the musty smell of the Elwood G. Bessey school in Scarborough, Maine where she was introduced to Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy, to Trixie Belden and Willie Wonka, but also the librarian lifting her sleeve to show the tattoos on her arm from her time held prisoner during World War II. A humbling memory from a favorite person. Julie’s thought a lot about that, how a single woman could open so many realities of the world from one musty, beautiful library.

Teen summers consisted of one weird job after the next: picking beans, babysitting in an old grand hotel, cleaning at a not so grand hotel, waiting tables for years on end (so many sold lobsters!). Free time was spent playing frisbee at the beach, or swimming in the lake, or tubing down a river – and no doubt getting in trouble here and there – the perfect fodder for YA adventures.

After college, Julie found herself in charge of an entire class of fourth graders. Truth be told, she had no business teaching at twenty-two, where the realities of students not meeting the literacy standards were a reality. A master’s degree in education with a focus on literacy turned the world full circle. Now it was her turn to help kids develop a love of reading and writing. No small feat, turns out. She went on to teach seventh grade writing and lastly fifth grade. She has owned a tutoring company, and then quickly went on to finish her teaching at the college level before founding the Manuscript Academy in 2016.

When not teaching, or reading, or writing, Julie is an avid nature freak. She loves to hike, kayak, mountain bike, and ski. She also loves to travel, but not to see the places, more to meet the people. Julie likes nothing more than a good story from a stranger. And, yes, she will put you in her book.

A proud mom, Julie has two kids. Both storytellers, and outdoors people, and readers. She currently lives in South Portland, Maine with her husband, Eric. She is still reading daily and truly believes that stories can change the world.

Thirteen Weird Things About Me

  • My worst day as a waitress was when I had to dumpster dive for false teeth.
  • I’ve taught grades from preschool to grad school.
  • I spent ten years as a whitewater paddler, I can always find a cheat.
  • When I worked at a ski resort, I had to police the hot tub behavior (Awkward!).
  • I can read palms.
  • Six miles into a backpack, a bear attacked and ate all my food. Unfortunate.
  • I once worked in a candy shop and ate so many sweets that I no longer eat sugar.
  • My second worst day as a waitress, I dumped butter into an old man’s crotch.
  • For five years, I had a blog where a stranger wrote me a new haiku every single day.
  • Cats love me more than other people. I’m allergic.
  • My nickname in high school was Thumby. Yes, I have a stubby thumb. Like a witch.
  • When I taught college, a group of students crashed my midterm videos for five years. Like Waldo.
  • One of my biggest regrets is that I missed a hike in France where my friends were chased by a wild boar.